HCMC – The central region of Vietnam has been named among the eight most attractive emerging destinations in Asia for 2026 by the U.K.-based travel magazine Time Out, positioning the area as a key tourism focus for the coming year.
In its 2026 list of rising Asian destinations, Time Out included central Vietnam alongside locations in Japan, India, Thailand, Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Bhutan. The selection highlights destinations that were previously overlooked or less accessible but are now gaining attention from travelers seeking alternatives to established hubs.
According to the magazine, central Vietnam has moved beyond the shadow of the country’s major cities to become a major destination in 2026. Improved accessibility, including a wave of new international flights arriving at Danang International Airport, has facilitated travel to the region.
Urban infrastructure in the coastal city of Danang has been upgraded, with the launch of multiple luxury hotels reshaping the cityscape. Further north, the former imperial capital of Hue is undergoing large-scale cultural restoration projects as part of what the magazine described as a broad revival.
The region’s tourism offerings span coastal and cultural attractions, from the sand dunes of Mui Ne to beachfront areas in Danang. The combination of improved connectivity, accommodation expansion and heritage restoration has placed central Vietnam on the list of Asia’s emerging destinations for 2026, according to Time Out.
